Bazaar Street

Historic Inclines

Before automobiles and buses made Cincinnati’s steep hills easier to traverse, the city relied on a remarkable network of five inclined planes to connect the basin with the hilltop neighborhoods. 

These track-mounted platforms—some engineered to carry full streetcars—slowly lifted and lowered generations of Cincinnatians along slopes that would have been nearly impossible to navigate on foot. Though all five inclines have long disappeared, subtle traces of their paths and landing points still remain throughout the city.

Today’s Incline Site

The former 8th Street Incline corridor survives today as a largely overlooked stretch, marked by remnants of retaining walls, abrupt grade changes, and underutilized parcels that hint at its historic function. While vehicular traffic passes through, the area lacks a strong pedestrian identity and offers little in the way of public gathering spaces or commercial vibrancy. Yet its dramatic topography and proximity to surrounding neighborhoods give it significant latent potential. The site still acts as a transitional seam between the basin and the West Price Hill/Price Hill areas—an urban hinge waiting for reinterpretation.

The proposal transforms the former corridor into a vibrant pedestrian spine, framed by richly textured brick buildings, colorful façades, and lush neighborhood greenery spilling into the street. Outdoor cafés, small shops, and neighborhood gathering spots activate the ground plane, while shaded seating, generous plantings, and open terraces invite people to linger. The former incline’s steep geometry becomes an asset, creating layered vistas and a dynamic public realm that celebrates both movement and pause. It reconnects hilltop and basin, stitching together communities that have long felt separated. Rather than restoring the incline mechanically, the project reimagines it socially: as a walkable, bike-friendly, culture-rich corridor that honors the past while creating a more inclusive, human-centered future for Cincinnati’s hillside neighborhoods.